The Interfaith Service of Remembrance for those who were killed in #Beirut and #Paris will be held at 6pm on Thursday 19 November 2015.

Could readers of Beside The Creek, please note. There was not an awareness of the killings in Beirut when this story was done. The candle lighting part of the service at the Cathedral will include 44 candles for those killed in the Beirut attacks in addition to the 129 candles for those killed in Paris. The condolence books will include one for France and one for Lebanon.

A poignant candlelight vigil and service will be held in the city this week to remember victims of the Paris terrorism attacks.

In the wake of the tragedy, the Ballarat Interfaith Network will hold a service for people of all faiths at the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral on Thursday evening. BIN public relations officer Margaret Lenan Ellis said it was a way to draw the community together in act of love and hope.

A candle will be lit for each of the 129 victims of the terrorist attacks. Anyone attending the event, will also be able write personal messages in a condolence book which will be sent to the French embassy in Canberra in the coming weeks.

 “People will be able to write their own messages for peace, hope and forgiveness in the book,” Ms Lenan Ellis said. “We want it to be a way for people to counteract any messages of hate... to stand together in solidarity and peace, in the name of humanity. People of any faith are welcome to attend the service. It is open to everybody in the community.”

Ms Lenan Ellis said it was also crucial recent events did not further isolate the city’s Muslim community.

“We need to try and dispel any prejudices which surround people of Islamic faith that could be further fuelled by these attacks,” Ms Lenan Ellis said.

Her sentiment was echoed by Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council chairman Dr Sundram Sivamalai who urged the Islamic community not to remain silent.

“This violence is not was Islam represents,” Dr Sivamalai said. “It is not what Islam preaches and I would urge the Muslims leaders to have a voice in this tragedy.”

Victims will also be remembered at the Interfaith Network’s Tree of Life – One Voice project which will be held on November 21 between 10am and 3pm at the Buninyong Town Hall and the Uniting Church. 

Blue, white and red balloons will be released into the sky at the end of the Tree of Life event to remember those lost and symbolise hope for the future 

 The vigil will be held on Thursday from 6pm 

at the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral 

at 49 Lydiard Street Ballarat.

Senator di Richard di Natale: #Paris, #Beirut, War, Fear, Hate, Challenges, Peace, War, Climate

The post below has been cross-posted from the blog, Advocacy.

A friend of mine as received the following letter from Senator Richard di Natale:

Dear Ian,

Our thoughts are with the people of Paris and indeed all the victims of recent tragedies brought on by war, fear, and hate.
The challenges facing our world are enormous. The events that unfolded in Paris and Beirut over recent days show just how much more work needs to be done to achieve lasting peace and democracy around the globe. 
The perpetrators of these heinous crimes must be brought to justice and we must redouble our efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria. But we must resist the urge to lash out in anger or retribution because that risks making a terrible situation worse. Hate is the problem, not the answer. 
We are already seeing those who are trying to escape terror and violence in their homelands blamed for the atrocities of others. Now more than ever we need to stand up for people fleeing violence rather than turning our backs on them. If we don't stand up for the families escaping this cruelty and brutality, who will? 
We are a movement who believe firmly that there is hope for humanity and the planet. Now more than ever we must come together and not let these hateful actions divide us. 
Many of us are reeling from the events of the last week. Our hearts go out to the families and friends who have lost people they love, and whose lives have been irreparably changed.

When Senator Larissa Waters and I go to Paris in two weeks for the global climate talks, we will take messages of hope with us from Australia and deliver them to the French and Lebanese representatives.
I would love to take as many messages as I can from Greens members, supporters and friends around Australia.

I look forward to including your words when we deliver those messages in Paris.

Always with hope,

Richard Di Natale

Faith Communities Council of Victoria (FCCV): Statement re #Paris and #Beirut

 

14th of November, 2015

Statement on acts of violence in Paris and Beirut

The Faith Communities Council of Victoria has issued the following statement in response to the recent acts of violence in Paris and Beirut: 

As leaders and people of faith, we offer our prayers and sympathies to family members and loved ones of those killed and wounded in Paris and Beirut. The loss of innocent life is senseless and we pray for the victims of these horrible attacks.

We unequivocally condemn these callous and senseless acts of violence - no belief, cause, or grievance justifies such acts of violence. We pray that the perpetrators are found and brought to justice.

We must remember these acts are committed by extremists, who although claim to be Muslims, do not represent the mainstream Muslim approach to religion or sanctity of life.

Faith Communities Council of Victoria is comprised of the following peak bodies:

Baha'i Community of Victoria, Brahma Kumaris Australia, Buddhist Council of Victoria, 

Hindu Community Council of Victoria, Islamic Council of Victoria, 

Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Sikh Interfaith Council of Victoria and Victorian Council of Churches.